Type-writing machine



E. THOMAS. TYPE WRITING MACHINE; APPLICATION FILED .IUNE I9. 1917.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

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E. THOMAS. TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1917.

Patented Dec. 30,1919.

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EDWARD THOMAS, OF NEW YORK, Y., ASSIGNOB TO UNDER-WOOD TYPEWRITERCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented Dec. 36), llgllgl.

Original application filed January 4, 1917, Serial No. 140,488. Dividedand this application filed June 19, 1917. Serial No. 175,555.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD THoMAs, a

citizen of the United States, residing in sizes and shapes in variousrelative positions,

preparatory to making simultaneous original and carbon type impressionson the collated sheets.

In the Underwood typewriting machines now manufactured .for thispurpose, the sheets are collated by impaling them upon a pair of endlessbands provided with studs, to engage perforations, or notches in theside edges of the work-sheets and the collated sheets are advanced bymeans of said bands which run around the platen; the bands extending forconsiderable distance away from the platen to give room forcollatingsheets.-

According to one form 'ofmy present in" the sheets may be collated upona rention, table in their natural readmg positions, that is. face up andwith the bottoms of the sheets nearest the operative, and the use of thebands thus rendered unnecessary.

In carrying out the present invention, the platen of an Underwoodfront-strike ty ewriting machine may be lifted bodily y bringing therear side thereof to the top, and the. sheets are then laid upon thetable, which then lies adjacent to the elevated platen, so that thefaces ofthe sheets are uppermost and the leading ends of one or more ofthe sheets lie upon the platen. The sheets are so placed that-the platenmay cause them to advance, the platen itself being, for this purpose,provided with a set of pins which are adapted to engage openings in thework-sheets, thus alining the sheets and causing them to advance withthe platen. The table may include studs which are advantageously in tworows, one row being along each slde of the table, on which studs thesheets may be impaled by means of the usual notches or perforations onthe side edge. These studs are-preferably disappearing, so that afterthe sheets are collated, the studs may be withdrawn.

If platen feed rolls are employed, said rolls may be of the usualremovable form, and adapted to be removed from the platen when the tablestuds are projected and thrust against the platen when the table studsare withdrawn. This causes the platen feed rolls to press thework-sheets against the platen with the result that the worksheets arepositively held in place upon the platen by the studs thereon. I

The collating table may be provided with flaps hinged at one or bothsides thereof,

the flaps being provided with feed rolls,

so that the sheets feed easily from the collatmg table when drawn alongby the platen, but at the same time are held against falling from thetable by the feed rolls on the table.

The collating table may be fixed to the frame which swings the platentoits upper position, and may deliver the sheets to a rear paper shelfwhich occupies nearly the posltion of an ordinary paper shelf and apron.As the sheets pass around the platen in the ordinary writing position,they may be guided'by wire fingers, which are fixed 1n the typewritercarriage and are adapted to guide sheets from the paper apron up andover the front of the machine to keep the sheets from being entangledwith the parts at the front of the machine.

In another form of the invention the platen feed rollsmay be omitted andthe paper apron so formed that sheets, collated on the collating table,may be slid forward to the platen, which will impale them on the pins,and the apron will hold them against the pins by a part of the apronwhich. is adjacent the pins, but lies. closer to the surface of theplaten than the points of the' pins, thereby preventing any sheet onceimpaled on the platen pins from escap- Ing therefrom unless it is ledaway from the platen either at the front or at the back of the papertable.

This application is a division of my application No. 140,488, filedJanuary 4, 1917, inpw) Patent No. 1,274,106, dated July 30,

9 8. Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

' Eigure 1 is a plan view of an Underwood pewriting machine modified tosome exas shown 1n the patent to Wernery.'&

Smith, No. 1,132,055, with the collating table thrown down to collatingposition and sheets collated thereon.

Fig. 2 is a sectional side view of the same, section being taken on line2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig; 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showmg the writing position ofthe collating table in dotted lines, and also showing the pins of thecollating table withdrawn, section being takenon line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but taken from the opposite side ofthe machine.

Fig. 5 is a view of another form of my invention, but otherwise likeFig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the paper apron and platen seen in Fig, 5.

The carriage of a typewriting machine slides on the usual rails 1 and 2,under the control of any suitable form of escapement mechanism, so thattype-blocks 3, on typebars 4, may print one after'another, atletter-spaoe intervals. If desirable, case-shifting mechanism may beused, which, however, is advantageously in the form of a shiftabletype-basket to avoid the burden of.

shifting the added weight of the collating devices, although the Weightof said devices. may be very much less than in those hitherto employed.Upper and lower-case characters 5 and 6 are, therefore, formed on thetype-v block 3.

The typewriter carriage includes the usual rotatable platen 7, which, byconnections hereinafter described, is adapted to be rotated inline-space intervals by the usual handle or lever 8 operating the slide9, which, through the pawl 10, turns the linespace detent wheel 11. Inorder to accurately aline the platen at line-space intervals, the,

usual line-splace detent 12 is provided to cooperate -wit the line-spacewheel 11. In order that the line-space wheel 11 may rotate the platen,said wheel is fixed to a stub shaft 13 provided with the usual knob 14and journaled in the frame 15 of the carriage, and said stub shaft isgeared level to the platen, .so that any rotation of the line-spacewheel will rotate the platen precisely the same amount. The gearingbetween the shaft 13 and the platen 7 includes a gear wheel 16 fast tothe stub 13, and an identical gear wheel 17 fast on an extension 18 ofthe platen axle 19,-said axle 19 being journaled on each end 111 asupplementary swin frame 20. In order that the two gear whee s *16 and17 may alwa s rotate together, they mesh with a sing e broad-pinion 21,which is journaled above and in front of the platen 7 In order that thetwo ends of the platen may always move together, the

opposite end of the platen axle 19 is similarlyjournaled in the swingframe 20 andis geared to a second stub shaft 13 ca1-ry1ng=a;. knob 14.The connections at this other that of the usual Underwood which formspart of the swing frame 20.

The swing frame 20, in one form of the present invention, not onlycarries the platen 7, but also carries the usual front and rear pressurerolls 25 and 26, and a paper apron 27, the latter, when in writingposition, occupying a position approximately paper table and apron.

For the purpose of writing, the platen occupies the position of theplaten in an ordinary Underwood typewriting machine, indicated in dottedlines in Fig. 3. For the purpose of locking the platen in this positionto enable writing to be accurately and neatly done, the swing frame 20is adapted to be locked down by a pair of catches 28, which are adjacentopposite ends of the swing frame 20, and are adapted to catch onstuds'29 on said frame. In order to release these catches, thereisprovided at the left-handside of the machine, a handle, 30 formed as anextension on one of the catches '28. This releases both catchessimultaneously because they are both fast on a common shaft 31, which isprovided with springs 31 embracing it, tending to hold the catches ineffective position over the studs 29. When the catches 28 are released,the swing frame 20 may be swung up, thus carrying or rotatin a collatingtable 32, which is fast thereto, forwardly and downwardly to aconvenient position for the operative to adjust work-sheets thereon. InFigs. 2 and 3, this position is shown as horizontal, and the collatingboard 32 is supported at that angle by resting on rubber-tipped bumpers33 mounted on the typewriter carriage.

. When the collating table 32 is in the horizontal position shown inFigs. .2, 3 and 4, Work-sheets 35 may be adjusted thereon after thewings 36, which are hinged at 37 to the edge of the collating table 32,are

adjusted by means of the pins. To project these pins 38, the operativedraws forward a handle 40 to rotate a shaft 41 on which the handle ismounted, so that pinions 42 fast to said shaft will drive forward rackbars 43, with which they are in mesh, said rack bars being-formed on aslidable plate 44, with the result that the pins 38 are projectedbecause the plate 45, on which they are mounted, carries followerslanting cam slot 47 on the turned-up edges pins 46, which engage a a ofthe plate 44. The plate 44 lies beneath the collating table 32 when saidtable is in the horizontal position shown in Figs. 2, 3, etc., and isguided by slots 48 in the plate 44, which slots engage screws 49 mountedin lugs 50 on the outer end of the collating table 32. The plate 44 issupported at its end nearest the platen by a headed screw 51, whichengages a slot 52 in the plate 44, and is threaded into a turned-overend of the sheet metal which forms the plate 32.

-While the work-sheets 35 are being ad- 'u sted on the table 32, thefeed rolls 25 and 26 are usually free from the platen, having beenthrown off previous to the beginning of the adjustment of thework-sheets by means of the usual handle 53, which is effective on theusual cam 54, which controls said rolls. With the rolls thus thrown off,a paper apron 27, which in the writing position of the platen is behindand underneath it, will guide work-sheets around the platen. The

work-sheets may be shoved rearwardly across the table, and owing totheir springi- 25. ness will usually spring clear of the platen pins 56,which are spaced around the platen and are adaptedto engage theperforations 39 in the work-sheets, or, if desired, may serve as edgegages for the sheets.

In' order toprevent the work-sheets from catching on the shaft 23, thereare provided fingers 57 as extensions of the apron, which extend up infront of the platen farther than the apron usually extends, so as to 3 5guide the work-sheets not only ast the shaft 23, but onto the wires 57which'extend from said fingers 57 and overlie the front of the carriage,thus preventing worksheets pushed around to the position seen in Fig. 2,

' 40 from becoming entangled with the mecha nism in front of thetypewriting machine. After the work-sheets are adjusted by means of thecollating board pins 3 8.','the wings 36 are folded down onto the"worksheets with the result that feed rolls 58,

rotatively mounted in said wings, bear againstthe work-sheets and holdthe worksheets in position. The wings themselves are considerably cutaway, as seen at 59, to enable them to be made lighter, the edges of thecut-away portions being up-turned to lend stiffness to the wings.

In order to hold the wings so that the rolls 58 will press work-sheetswith sufficient strength against the collating board 32, the hinges 37include detent springs 60, which are adapted to press the wings againstthe collating board 32 when the wings lie against the board, but whichin the open condition 60 of the wings, seen at the bottom of Fig. 1,

support the wings against falling into the typewriting mechanism.

After the wings 36 have been folded down, the pins 38 are withdrawn fromthe collating board by a reverse movement in the handle of the platen,so that work-sheets, which ex- 40, and the feed rolls 25 and 26 arethrown .into place to hold the work-sheets against the platen. With somekinds of worksheets, the throwing of the feed rolls against the platenwill advantageously proceed the withdrawal of the pins 38, then thecollating board 32 is swung upward to the dotted-line position of Fig.3, in which position it is caught by the catch 28, and the work-sheetsare ready to be written on and to be advanced either by the platen knob14 or by the line space lever 8. Since the feed rolls 25 and 26 holdthe'work-sheets against the platen, it is impossible for the work-sheetsto escape from the'platen pins 56, and there-' fore the sheets when oncealined are held positively alined by said pins 56.

It will often be found advantageous to have a separate row of pins 56 oneach end tend only part way of the length of the platen, will bepreserved in proper alinement? It will be observed that it is impossiblefor work-sheets to get out of alinement when thus held by the pins 56,since said pins are relatively close together and every work-sheet willnecessarily engage at least two adjacent pins on one end of the platen.Since the pins 56'are usually placed quite close together and at aliquotdistances around the platen, the perforations 39 on the work-sheets mustbe spaced to correspond therewith,

If desired the apron 27 may include a transparent celluloid portiontoenable the work-sheets to be seen as they pass beneath the upper endthereof, as viewed in Fig. 2. The wings 36 are provided with openings 61to register with the pins 38, so that when the Wings 36 are-thrown down,the work-sheets are positively centered by the pins 38, owing to thefact that the openings 61 carry the work-sheets away below the upperends of the pins.

In some cases, it may be advantageous 110 to omit th feed rolls and todepend exclusively on the platen pins 56 for holding the work-sheetsposition as the platen rotates. Ifhis object may be convenientlyattained by having the apron 27 extend down close to the surface of theplaten at 62,

as seen in Fig. 2, except that the apron is arched at 63 directly overthe pins 56 to permit the pins to turn freely without being struck bythe apron. In this case, the part 129 62 of the apron which is closeagainst the platen holds the work-sheets so close to the platen thatthey cannot possibly escape from the pins 56. When this structure isemployed asin other cases it will often be I found unnecessary to havecollating board pins 38, so that the typist depends absolutely on thepins '56 for alining the worksheets.

A device of this character is shown in Fig.

tion with a typewriter carriage and a rev- 5, in which the collatingtable 32 is provided with wings 36, which include rolls 58, said rollsserving to hold the work-sheets soluble platen therein, of a collatingboard,

a frame including said collating board, adapted to be swung down infront to horizontal position to deliver work-sheets to the platen fromsaid position, and pins on the platen for holding work-sheets whendelivered thereto.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a typewriter carriageand a revoluble platen therein, ofa collating board, a frame includingsaid collating board, adapted to be swung down in front to horizontalposition and to deliver work-sheets to the laten from said position,pins on the platen for holding work-sheets positioned when deliveredthereto, and devices for holding work-sheets against the collating boardwhen in collating position, said devices adapted to be swung to one sideto ermit work-sheets to be adjusted upon the oard.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a typewriter c'arria eand a revoluble platen therein, includ ng impaling pins, of acollating"board, a frame including said collating board, adapted .to beswung down iri'front to horizontal position and to deliver-.work-sheetsto the platen from said positidn, and impaling pins forming part of saidcollating .board adapted to be projected therefrom for adjusting awork-sheetfand to be withdrawn therefrom to permit a work-sheet to bedrawn from a collating board by the platen.

4. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a typewriter carria eand a revcluble platen therein, including impaling pins, of a collatingboard, a frame including said collating board, adapted to be swung downin front to horizontal position and to deliver work-sheets t'o theplaten from said position, impaling pins formin part'of said collatingboard adapted to i8 projected therefrom for adjusting a work-sheet, andto be withdrawn therefrom to permit a work-sheet to be drawn from acollating board by the platen, feed rolls for holding work-sheetsagainst the platen, and means whereby said feed rolls may be removedfrom said platen for the purpose of adjusting work-sheets thereon.

- 5. In a front-strike typewriting machine,-

' the combination with a typewriter carriage and a revoluble platentherein, of a paper positioned table: at the rear of saidcarriage; pinson said platen, line-space mechanism for said platen,

and connections whereby th platen and its table may be swung up toenable the operative to introduce work-sheets horizontally onto theplaten and beneath said table.

6. In a front-strike typewriting machine,

the combination with a typewriter carriage v and a revoluble platentherein, of a paper table at the rear of said carriage, pins on saidplaten, line-space mechanism for saidplaten, connections whereby theplaten and its table may be swung up to enable the operative tointroduce work-sheets horizontally onto the platen and beneath saidtable, pressure rolls swinging with said platen, and connections wherebysaid pressure rolls may be swung toward or from said platen, while saidplaten is in its swung position.

7. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination .with arevoluble platen and pins thereon, of a collating boardfor deliveringwork-sheets to said platen, pins for alining sheets on said collatingboard, and means for withdrawing said board pins.

8. In a front-strike typewriting machine,

the combination with a typewriter carriage and a revoluble platentherein, of pins on said platen, a collating board adapted to deliverwork-sheets to said platen, a frame including said platen. and saidcollating board, adapted to be swung to bring the collating board from anormal nearly vertical position to a horizontal position, to permitwork-sheets to be adjusted thereon, pins on. said collating board, andmeans for withdrawing said' pins from said board.

9. In a front strike typewriting machine, the combination with atypewriter carriage and a revoluble platen therein, of pins onthecombination with a typewriter carriage and a revoluble platen therein,of a frame including said platen, adapted to swing said platen up, acollating board forming partof said. frame swung to horizontal positionwhen the platen is swung up, pins on said-platen, feed rolls-for saidplaten, pins for said collating board, and means for separatelyoperating the feed rolls and the collating board pins.

including said platen adapted to swing said platen upwardly, a papertable forming part of said frame, pins on said platen adapted to guide awork-sheet around the platen,

and paper guiding devices adapted to receive work-sheets from said tableand guide the work-sheets clear of the front mechanism of the typewritercarriage.

12. In a front-strike typewriting machine, the combination with arevoluble platen and pins thereon forming. a row extending entirelyaround the platen, of a paper apron adapted to hold work-sheets closeagainst said platen to make feed-rolls unnecessary, and arched portionsof said apron adapted to permit said pins to revolve free of the apronand within it.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriageand a swing frame therein, of a revoluble platen mounted in said swingframe, apaper apron forming part of said swing frame, a part of saidapron lying close to the platen, pins on said platen, .and part of saidapron extending away from said platen to permit work-sheets to beinserted on said pins.

14. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriageand a swing'frame therein, of a revoluble platen mounted in said swingframe, a paper apron forming partof said swing frame, a part of saidapron lying close to the platen, pins on said platen, a partrof saidapron extending away from said platen, to permit worksheets to beinserted on said pins, and releasable feed rolls forming part of saidframe adapted to hold work-sheets on said pins.

15. In a typewriting machine, the comblnation with a traveling carriageand a swing frame therein, of a revoluble platen mounted in said swingframe, a paper apron forming part of said swing frame, a part of saidapron lying close to the platen, pins on said platen, a part of saidapron extending away from said platen, to permit worksheets to beinserted on said pins, a collating table forming part of said frameadapted to be swung down from a normal nearly Vertical position to ahorizontal position for adjusting sheets, and feed rolls for said tableadapted to be removed therefrom for adjusting sheets, but adapted tobear against the table in its vertical position to hold the sheets inplace.

16. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriageand a swing frame therein, of a revoluble platen mounted in said swingframe, a paper apron forming part of said swing frame, a part of saidapron lying close to the platen, pins on said platen, a part of saidapron extending away from said platen, to permit worksheets to beimpaled on said pins, a collating table form ng part of said frameadapted to be swung downfrom a normal nearly vert1- cal position to ahorizontal position for adjusting sheets. feed rolls for said tableEDWARD THOMAS.

Witnesses:

EDITH B. LIBBEY, CATHERINE A. NEWELL.

